FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Citizens of other countries are still able to enter Azerbaijan via land borders, meaning that the closure only applies to Azerbaijani citizens, which violates the country’s Constitution.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms On September 25, the trial of human rights activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev continued at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Bakhtiyar Hajiyev filed a motion stating that he does not wish to participate in the upcoming court hearings due to reasons such as the "artificial prolongation of the process" and the "rejection of all motions." Hajiyev...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “This family’s greed knows no bounds. Everything must belong to them. From oil to gas, from gas to cotton, from cotton to hazelnuts—they never had enough. From gold mines to sand quarries, from technoparks to agro parks, from flower plantations to sunflower fields—everything is theirs.” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms The trial of Fazil Gasimov, a doctoral student from Istanbul University, continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Mahira Karimova. A preparatory hearing for Gasimov's case had taken place a month ago, during...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “The regime believes that even the smallest political concession—such as dismantling the physical cages built around Baku’s streets or opening a single land border crossing—would lead to everything collapsing, bringing the regime down with it...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Fazil Gasimov, a PhD student at Istanbul University who was detained in Turkey in August 2023 and brought to Azerbaijan, has been on a hunger strike for 90 days while in prison. Human rights defender, the executive director of the "Defense Line" human rights organization...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “Those who detain us belong to Prison. No one can silence free media...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Another activist, Nijat Ibrahim, was not allowed to leave Azerbaijan on September 6. He was not permitted to board the flight to Chișinău at the border checkpoint of Baku International Airport. 'We were traveling as a family to Chișinău, but I was stopped at the border checkpoint and told that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had placed a "stop" on my departure,' he told Turan. Ibrahim's wife and two young daughters were allowed to leave. 'My family...


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FB Digest@VoxPOPULI   “As long as the "iron fist" hovers like a nightmare over the Azerbaijani people, things could get even worse...” (Lack of) Human Rights and Freedoms Jailed academician Fazil Gasimov’s brother Nazim Gasimov shared concerning news about the health condition of his brother. According to him, Fazil Gasimov Fazil Gasimov, who has been on a hunger strike for several weeks in protest of his wrongful arrest, is now unable to walk or speak due to severe weight loss. Nazim Gasimov: “I went to visit Fazil. Since Fazil was too weak to come to the meeting, they took...


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